By John Goodman
NAVAIR Public Affairs

To set forth the goals and objectives of the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), Vice Admiral Walter Massenburg is conducting a series of “Admiral’s Call” All-Hands briefings for the NAVAIR workforce.

The NAVAIR Commander made his latest presentation to employees during two sessions on Thursday, Nov. 3—at the South Engineering Building (2187) and in the atrium of the RADM William A. Moffett Building.

Both sessions were packed with military, civilian and contractor personnel who turned out to hear what the admiral had to say on the following topics: a short “history” of CNO Guidance 2005-2006, NAE operations and achievements, an AIRSpeed update, and some words on acquisition and life-cycle support, and the single provider concept.

CNO Guidance during Admiral Clark’s term took its overarching theme as mission accomplishment; this has evolved to Admiral Mullen’s focus on accelerating Sea Power 21 to “all full ahead.”

Said Massenburg, “We’ve changed from a Fleet perspective to a budget and program perspective. We had to overcome a series of bad behaviors from the ‘90s which basically showed that we valued infrastructure at the expense of requirements. We spent money without knowing what it bought us.”

By 2003, owing to the efforts of Admiral Clark, NAVAIR was beginning to achieve the culture of costwise readiness. “After five tough years,” according to Massenburg, “ we were out of the stovepipes.”

Achieving a readiness balance and meeting Admiral Mullen’s expectations “will require us to execute the Sea Power 21 vision,” said Massenburg, “stay focused on it, sustain combat readiness, build the Fleet for the future and develop 21st century leaders. We’ve begun to do those things, and last year we returned $280 million to help recapitalize our force and advance future readiness.”

Then Massenburg turned the meeting over to RADM David J. Venlet, Program Executive Officer of Tactical Aircraft Programs [PEO(T)]. As Lead for Acquisition and Life Cycle Support—a new means for type/model/series teams to drive their focus to ARFT (Aircraft Ready for Tasking at Reduced Cost), M-rating and cost reduction—Venlet also spoke about the future. Using AIRSpeed, the teams will develop processes to aid the NAE and move NAVAIR to the single provider command concept.

“The future,” said Massenburg, “is getting to a warfighter enterprise operating concept whereby our SYSCOMS and Echelon II providers use common processes and desired outputs to link five warfighter domains. We want to achieve synergy across all providers for maximum and optimum effect.”

“All this is about working toward the greater good,” Massenburg told the audience. “You are what the Enterprise is all about.”

For more information about the NAE, contact the NAVAIR Public Affairs Office at 301-757-1487. To view the VADM’s presentation slides, provide feedback or submit a question, visit the NAVAIR Plan of the Day at https://mynavair.navair.navy.mil.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: VADM Wally Massenburg, NAVAIR Commander, speaks to a large audience in Building 2187 (South Engineering Building) at the Admiral's Call - All Hands event at Pax River last Thursday. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Wilson.

Photo 2: VADM Wally Massenburg, NAVAIR Commander, embarks on his current "round robin" visit to all NAVAIR sites with an Admiral's Call - All Hands event in Building 2272 at Pax River. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Wilson.

Photo 3: VADM Wally Massenburg, NAVAIR Commander, begins his "round robin" visits of all NAVAIR sites to share his thoughts on AIRSpeed and the NAE with an Admiral's Call - All Hands event last Thursday in Building 2272 at Pax River. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Wilson.